Combination hoop skirt and petticoat



July 11, 196 R. M. CAMPBELL COMBINATION HOOP SKIRT AND PETTICOAT 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 15, 1958 July 11, 196 R. M. CAMPBELL COMBINATION HOOP SKIRT AND PETTICOAT 4 She ts-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 15, 1958 IN VENTOR v ul kMaam zrle 22 2X1! ATTORNFV July 11, 1961 CAMPBELL 2,991,480

COMBINATION HOOP SKIRT AND PETTICOAT Filed Dec. 15, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 P2? I 26 fiuikM C am vzrell Byyfl W ATTORNEY R. M. CAMPBELL COMBINATION HOOP SKIRT AND PETTICOAT July 11, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 15, 1958 INVENTOR RuZhMCam v fieZZ ATTORNEY Patented July 11, 195 1 United States Patent Ofiice Filed Dec. 15, 1958, Ser. No. 780,591 Claims. ('Cl. 2--216) This invention relates to a hoop skirt and petticoat combination of unique construction which is adjustable both as to length and circumference to fit persons of different sizes, from a normal size ten year old girl to a large adult woman.

More particularly, it is an aim of the present invention to provide a hoop skirt and petticoat which is capable of adjustment not only to proper length and waist size of a particular wearer, but wherein the diameter of the lower portion of the hoop skirt can be varied considerably for each waist size and length adjustment, to suit the particular desires of the wearer.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hoop skirt which is so constructed that it will be properly balanced for correctly supporting the skirt portion of an outer garment. I

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter become more fully apparent from the following description of the drawings, illustrating a presently preferred embodiment thereof, and wherein:

3 FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of the combination hoop skirt and petticoat, shown fully extended;

-FIGURE 2 is a side elevtaional view thereof, looking'toward the left side of the hoop skirt and petticoat, or from right to left of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary rear elevational view thereof, on a rdeuced scale;

FIGURE 4 is an elevational view of the hoop skirt, with the petticoat removed;

7 FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary elevational view showing the waistband of the hoop skirt extended;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view, taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 6-6 of FIGURE 4, and on an enlarged scale;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view, taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 7-7 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 8 is a similar view, taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 88 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged cross sectional view, taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 99 of-FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 10 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view of-a portion of'the petticoat, taken substantially along a-plane as indicated by the line -10--10 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 11 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view looking toward the inner side of a portion of the hoop skirt;

FIGURE 12 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view looking toward a part of the outer side of the hoop skirt and petticoat, and

FIGURE 13 is a vertical sectional View, taken substantially along the line 13-13 of FIGURE 12.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the hoop skirt and petticoat combination in its entirety is designated generally 15 and broadly comprises a novel hoop skirt 16 and a novel construction of petticoat 17.

The hoop skirt 16, as best illustrated in FIGURES 4 to 11, includes a waistband 18 preferably formed of two plies or thicknesses of a nonelastic fabric the ends of which are detachably and adjustably fastened together in overlapping relation by engagement of male snap fastening halves 19 with female snap fastening halves 20. The ends of the waistband 18 are connected together by the snap fasteners 19, 20 at the left side of the hoop skirt 16. The waistband at the front of the hoop skirt is provided with two male snap fastener halves 19 and two female snap fastener halves 20, arranged in'sp'ace'd apart relation to one another, as best seen in FIGURE 5, for additionally adjusting the size of the waistband 18 and the right side of the waistband is also adjustable by means of one male snap fastener half 19 and one female snap fastener half 20, which are also spaced from one another. Adjustment of'thef'rear portion of the waistband is accomplished by a single male snap fastener half 19 which is selectively engageable with either of two female snap fastener halves 20, which are spaced from one another and from said snap fastener half 19. I

The upper ends of a plurality of longitudinal or perpendicular tapes 21 are secured to the waistband 18, preferably between the plies thereof, in any suitable manner as by stitching, as seen at 22. The tapes 21 are likewise preferably formed of two nonelastic fabric plies, preferably a single strip folded lengthwise upon itself. The hoop skirt 16 prefreably includes fifteen perpendicular longitudinal tapes 21. The lower ends of the longitudinal tapes 21 are-turned back upon the'm selves and stitched, as indicated at 22, to form a loop 23 at the lower end of each tape 21. An endless nonelastic fabric tape 24 extends around and is secured by stitching 22 to each of the longitudinal tapes 21, adjacent their bottom loops 23, for positioning the lower portions of the tapes .21 approximately equal distances apart. 'Ihe annular tape 24 is of substantially greater circumference than the waistband 18, as seen in FIGURE 4, so that the longitudinal or vertical tapeslll extend downwardly from the waistband 18 to the annular tape 24 in diverg ing relation to one another. An endless nonelastic fabric tape 25 is disposed around and secured by stitching 22 to the tapes 21 and is'disposed near to but spacedfrom the waistband 18 and at a substantially greater distance from the bottom annular tape 24, An intermediate'an: nular nonelastic tape 26 is disposed around and secured to the tapes 2.1 by additional stitching 22 and is located. approximately midway between the upper tape.25 and? the lower tape 24. The spacing between the points where the adjacent longitudinal tapes 21 are secured to the tape '26 is less than that of the bottom tape 24 and greater than that of the upper-tape 25, as seen in FIG- URE 4. Said tapes 24,- 25 and 26 function to maintain the longitudinal or perpendicular tapes 21spaced sub-' stantially equal distances apart at the point wheresaid annular tapes are secured to the perpendicular tapes.

The perpendicular tapes 21 are each lapped and stitched, by additional stitching 22, beneath each of the annular tapes 25 and 26 to provide a loop 27 in each tape 21, beneath the annular tape 25, and a loop 28 beneath the tape 26. As clearly illustrated in FIGURES 4 and 8, the loops 27 and 28 are disposed on the inner sides of the tapes 21. I

Each longitudinal tape 21 has adjustment means above each annular tape 24, 25 and 26. The adjustment means, located between the tapes 24 and 26, of each tape 21, in; cludes two longitudinally spaced male snap fastener halves 29 and a single female snap fastener half 30 which is disposed above and spaced from the snap fastener halves 29 and engageable selectively therewith for shortening the tapes between the fabric bands 24 and 26. Each.

male and female snap fastener halves 35 and 36, respectively, straddling the perpendicular tapes 21 and whereby said annular tape 24 can be gathered, by attachment of the fastener-halves 35 and 36 together, for reducing the cirellmference of the skirt 16 near the bottom thereof.

However, the circumference of the skirt 16 is selectively increased or decreased primarily by adjustable spring metal hoops 37, 38- and 39, and each comprising a long spring metal strap 40 having a conventional belt buckle 41 attached to one end thereof, and provided with longitudinally spaced openings 42 to selectively receive the tongue of the buckle 41, for varying the circumference of the hoop. Each strap 40 is also provided with a plurality of rigid metal loops 43 through which the overlapping end of the strap extends. The strap 40 of the hoop 37 extends through each of the loops 23; the strap 40 of the hoop 38 extendsthrough each of the loops 27, and the strap 40 of the hoop 39 extends through each of the loops 28. Thus, the hoops 38 and 39 are disposed on the inner side of the hoop skirt 16 which the bottom hoop 37 forms the lower enlarged end of the hoop skirt. The straps forming the hoops are of sufiicient length so that the hoop skirt 16 can be expanded circumferentially to a maximum extent, as illustrated in FIG- URE 4, or can be reduced in circumference as much as desired.

The maximum over-all length of the hoop skirt 16, as illustrated in FIGURE 4, is preferably about forty-five and one-half inches. The hoop skirt has six adjustments as to length between its maximum length of forty-five and one-half inches and its minimum length of twentynine and one-half inches. The waistband 18 is adjustable from a minimum circumference of twenty-two inches to a maximum circumference of about thirty-four inches. Thus, it will be readily apparent that the hoop skirt 16 when extended is of adequate size to accommodate a large adult and may be reduced in size sufliciently to fit a ten year old gird of average size.

The petticoat 17 is composed of four corresponding gores 44, 45, 46 and 47, which are seamed together along their longitudinal edges in a conventional manner, as best seen M48 in FIGURE 10. The petticoat 17 flares from its upper to its lower end and is of a size to fit over the hoop skirt 16. The restricted upper end of the petticoat 17 is disposed around the annular fabric band 25 and is secured thereto by stitching 49. Said upper edge of the petticoat may be provided with a binding 50. The bottom enlarged end of the petticoat 17 is finished by a rufile 51, which is secured by stitching 52 to the bottom edge portions of the petticoat gores, and which ruffle is preferably about five and one-half inches deep or wide.

Each seam 48, adjacent the rufile 51, is provided with a male snap fastener half 53 and a female snap fastener half 54, which snap fastener halves are spaced from one another, as seen in FIGURES l and 2.

On each side of each seam 48, the petticoat gores are provided with five longitudinally spaced eyelets 55. Each petticoat gore also has an additional eyelet 55 disposed near its bottom edge and midway of its seamed longitudinal edges 48. The eyelets 55 of the petticoat 17, totaling forty-four, includes twenty-two eyelets bearing the designations L1 to L22 inclusive, and a like number designated R1 to R22, inclusive.

A nonelastic string or lace 56, which is approximately forty-five feet long, is laced through each of the eyelets 55. The two ends of the lace are initially passed inwardly through the eyelets L1 and R1 which are at the top back portion of the petticoat 17, as seen in FIGURE 3, and so that the intermediate portion of the lace 56 extends on the outer side of the petticoat between said two eyelets. One end of the lace 56 is then laced through each of the eyelets L2 to L22 consecutively from the eyelet Ll, while the other end of the lace is similarly laced through each of the eyelets R2 through R22. For example,:as..illustrated :in'FIGURES l, 2 and 3, the first laced 4 end passes outwardly through the eyelet L2, then inwardly through the eyelet L3, then outwardly through the eyelet L4 and so forth until it is drawn outwardly through the eyelet L22, as seen in FIGURE 1. The two ends of the lace, disposed externally of the petticoat between the eyelets L22 and R22, are secured together by a knot 57.

When the petticoat 17 is fully extended, as illustrated in FIGURES 1, 2 and 3, the ruffie 51 will extend to below the bottom loops 23 and the bottom hoop 37 of the hoop skirt 16. The shorten the petticoat 17- to conform with the shortened hoop skirt 16, the portion of the lace 56 between the eyelets L22 and R22 at the front of the skirt, and the portion of the lace between the eyelets R14 and R15, at the right side of the petticoat, are grasped and drawn upwardly simultaneously and uniformly for gathering the front and right side of the petticoat to a desired extent. These drawn up lace portions are each tied in an easily loosened knot, which will not accidentally become loose. The portions of the lace 56 at the back of the skirt, between the eyelets L1 and Rl and the portion of the lace at the left side of the skirt, between the eyelets L14 and L15 are then grasped and pulled upwardly and knotted in the same manner, as previously described, to shorten the petticoat 17 to a desired extent. The snap fastening halves 53 and 54.are connected to prevent the ruffle 51 and lower portion "of the petticoat from sagging between the eyelets L6, L12, R7 and R12, and so that the bottom edge of the ruffle will be level.

The upper portion of the hoop skirt, between the upper edge of the petticoat and the waistband 18, may also be adjustably shortened by engaging the male snap fastener halves 34 with either of the female snap fastener halves 33 disposed thereabove, so that both the upper end and the lower end of the petticoat can be supported by the hoop skirt at a correct elevation.

It will be readily apparent that the hoop skirt 16 may be utilized without a specific petticoat 17 and maybe worn under other petticoats. Likewise, the petticoat 17 can be utilized with other constructions of hoop skirts or even without a hoop skirt by attaching the band 50 around the waist as a waistband.

Various modifications and changes are contemplated and may be resorted to, without departing from the function or scope of the invention as hereinafter defined by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. An adjustable hoop skirt and petticoat comprising a hoop skirt including an adjustable, nonelastic waistband for supporting the hoop skirt, a plurality of nonelastic tapes secured to and extending downwardly from said waistband and disposed in spaced apart relation to one another, each of said tapes being provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced loop portions, spring hoops engaging corresponding loop portions of the tapes and support-ed thereby in longitudinally spaced relation to one. another, nonelastic fabric bands extending aroundihe hoop skirt and secured to each of said downwardly extending longitudinal tapes and cooperating with said spring hoops for holding the hoop skirt extended and the longitudinal tapes in spaced apart downwardly diverging relation to one another, said fabric bands being secured to the longitudinal tapes adjacent said spring hoops; and a petticoat disposed over said hoop skirt and having an enlarged lower end extending below the hoop skirt bottom and a restricted upper end disposed around and secured to an uppermost one of said fabric bands.

2. An adjustable hoop skirt and petticoat as in claim 1, means carried by said longitudinal tapes for adjusting said tapes between the spring hoops for varying the length of the hoop skirt, said petticoat having a plurality of longi-- tudinally and circumferentially spaced eyelets,-and a lace forming a drawstring extending through each ofsaid eyelets and having circumferentially spaced circumferential- 5 1y extending upper portions adapted to be drawn upwardly for shortening the petticoat.

3. An adjustable hoop skirt and petticoat as in claim 2, and means carried by said longitudinal tapes for adjustably shortening said tapes between the waistband and the upper end of the petticoat.

4. An adjustable hoop skirt and petticoat as in claim 3, and means for adjusting the circumferences of said spring hoops for contracting or expanding the hoop skirt circumferentially.

5. An adjustable hoop skirt comprising a nonelastic waistband, a plurality of longitudinal nonelastic tapes having upper ends secured to spaced portions of the waistband and supported thereby, each of said longitudinal tapes having longitudinally spaced loop portions, spring hoops engaging corresponding loop portions of the tapes whereby said hoops are supported by the longitudinal tapes in spaced apart relation to one another longitudinally of the hoop skirt, nonelastic fabric bands secured to each of the longitudinal tapes adjacent said spring hoops and combining therewith to maintain the hoop skirt extended circumferenti-ally, means carried by said longitudinal tapes for adjustably shortening the tapes between the spring hoops and between the waistband and the spring hoop disposed adjacent thereto, for varying the length of the hoop skirt, and means for adjusting the circumferences of the spring hoops for varying the circumference of the hoop skirt adjacent each spring hoop.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

